Brendan Cole calls for Strictly Come Dancing judges to be 'nastier'
Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole thinks the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show has lost its spark because the judges have become too nice.
Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole calls for the show's judges to be "nasty" for better TV.
The star thinks the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition has lost its spark because the panel, formed of Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Shirley Ballas, 65, Motsi Mabuse, 45, and Anton Du Beke, 60, have become too nice with their feedback on the celebrities and their professional partners' routines.
And Brendan, 50, argues that Craig should bring back his harsh approach, like he did with late judge Len Goodman.
On a recent episode of 47-year-old Westlife member Nicky Byrne's HQ podcast, Brendan said: "If Len or Craig wanted to be a bit nasty, they would be, and it made great TV."
He added: "Craig used to be really quite nasty. Now he'll be a little bit nasty, but he'll always finish on a positive, which is good for today's day and age and mental health and all that sort of thing.
"But I'd probably prefer him to stick to the nasty and leave it at that because it makes better television."
Brendan was known for his outspoken nature on Strictly Come Dancing, which he believes contributed to his departure in 2017 after 13 years when the BBC did not renew his contract, citing an "editorial decision", in January 2018.
On Thursday's (20.08.26's) episode of his and fellow ex-Strictly pro, 48-year-old James Jordan's Manopause podcast, Brendan said he was overheard calling head judge Shirley Ballas the C-word.
Per The Sun, he recalled: "I said that Shirley Ballas was a **** three times.
"Strictly wanted my assurances that I wasn’t going to make a remark like that again.
"I wasn’t on air, it wasn’t recorded, it was about somebody. It wasn’t to their face, but I couldn’t turn around to them and say, ‘OK, I’ll give you my assurances that that won’t happen.'
"For me, it was about staying true to myself.
"I don’t condone the C-word. And at the time, I apologised for using it, but I wasn’t going to backtrack on it and say, 'Well, it wasn’t true,' because I thought it was true.
"Listen, I love Shirley. I think she’s a great judge. At the time, I didn’t think she was particularly nice to us, and I vocalised that.
"Some would argue it cost me the gig. I would argue that I look at the positives and go, 'I had the best three or four years of my working career post-Strictly, thanks to Strictly.'"
Brendan - who won the first series in 2004 with 53-year-old former newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky - knew his days on Strictly Come Dancing were numbered after a senior executive who "really loved" him quit.
The entertainer said: "There was somebody above the exec producer who really loved me. And she said to me, 'As long as I’m here, Brendan, you’ll always have a place on the show.'
"And then the year before I left, she came up to me and said, 'Brendan, I’m leaving to Channel 4.'
"I knew my days were over."
Although he would think about returning to the programme if asked, Brendan does not think he would get a call.
In April, the ballroom dancer told Sky Vegas: "If Strictly called asking me to return, I’d consider it. I’d love to be part of the show again in the right role - especially as the presenter.
"But I don’t think my name is currently in the mix, so I’m not waiting by the phone."
